May 2, 2023
Israeli Naval Forces Wound 2 Fishermen, Arrest 2 Others and Confiscate their Fishing Boat
Israeli Naval Forces Wound 2 Fishermen, Arrest 2 Others and Confiscate their Fishing Boat

 Ref:44/2023

Date: 01 May 2023

Time: 15:00 GMT

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns the continued Israeli attacks against Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Sea; the latest was this morning when 4 fishermen have been injured with rubber-coated bullets, 2 others have been arrested and their boat has been confiscated.

According to PCHR’s follow-up, at approximately 11:30 on Monday, 01 May 2023, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha area, northwest of Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats, and surrounded a fishing boat sailing within 3 nautical miles and belonging to the fisherman Mohammed Subhi Baker, as Mohammed’s sons ‘Imran (29) and Ibrahim (24) were on board. The Israeli naval forces ordered them to take their clothes off, jump into the water and swim towards the gunboat. The fishermen were then taken to Ashdod Seaport and their fishing boat was confiscated.

Meanwhile, as a result of the heavy shooting and surrounding other Palestinian fishing boats, two fishermen were injured with rubber-coated bullets: Rajab Khaled Rajab Abu Riyalah (36) who was shot in his left waist, and his brother Khaled Khaled Rajab Abu Riyalah (28) who was shot in his head. The Palestinian fishermen managed to reach the wounded fishermen, pulled their fishing boat and took them to al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza City, where their wounds were deemed minor and moderate. Also, a group of fishermen lost some of their fishing tools during the heavy shooting at their fishing boats.

It is noteworthy that the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) restrict Palestinian fishermen’s work and allow them to sail only within 6 to 12 nautical miles in the western Gaza Strip. Since the beginning of 2023, PCHR has documented injury of 8 fishermen, arrest of 10 others, keeping 3 fishing boats in custody and damaging 2 other fishing boats.

PCHR emphasizes that the Israeli practices against Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip constitute a grave breach of all international conventions and instruments, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Also, the Israeli attacks against Palestinian fishermen violate the Fourth Geneva Convention relevant to the protection of civilians in time of war and stipulates the need to protect workers and guarantee their integrity.

PCHR reiterates its call on the international community, including the States Party to the Geneva Conventions of 1949, to obligate the Israeli occupation authorities to cease attacks and pursuit of Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza waters, as well as allowing fishermen to fish freely. Additionally, PCHR calls upon the Israeli authorities to compel Israel to release the fishermen detained in the Israeli prisons, compensate them for their losses caused by the continued Israeli attacks and release the fishing boats and equipment in their custody.